Add Some Colour to Your Life

March 1, 2017

Are you a lover of colour but lack the confidence to add it to your home? Many of us avoid colour and stick to a neutral palette as adding colour can be scary. Thankfully there are a few fail safe rules that will have you adding a splash of colour with confidence (secret note- These rules can also be applied to your wardrobe so you could be splashing out in colour on the streets too)

Some people just have a natural knack using colour but others of us struggle. Here are some rules using a Colour Wheel to help you take that plunge (although rules are ALWAYS made to be broken)

Here it is- the colour wheel. We've all seen one before but here is how to get the most from it.

Colours react to each other. One colour paired with another can zing whilst sat next to another can look dull, ill or just plain dead. Some work harmoniously creating a calming interior, others make a dramatic statement but how do we know how each will react with others?

Here are 4 different colour groupings that create different effects- Analogue, Complimentary, Triadic and Monotone.

Analogue- works best as a group of 3 colours

To find Analogue colours first chose your favoured colour. Its Analogue colours site directly NEXT to your chosen colour. This can be to either side or the 2 colours directly to the left or right of your main colour on the colour wheel. This is Analogue Colour and they work because they bring harmony to you colour scheme. They occur naturally next to each other so sit comfortably together.

Many people think red and pink shouldn’t work- think again. Adding the 3rd colour in the Analogue grouping i.e. purple or orange actually helps to make sense of the pairing and makes it less scary giving you a really cool colour palette.

Complementary Colours – a 2 colour scheme

Again chose your colour from the Colour Wheel then to find its complimentary colour go to the exact opposite of the colour wheel and you have your pairing. It really is that simple.

This can be a brave colour pairing as the 2 colours together, being the polar opposites make each other ZING. The colours appear more intense. This can give you a fun colour scheme to your home and will always look exciting, daring and bang on trend regardless of fashion.

For a more subtle look you can tone down the colours, choosing a pastel shades may be less intimidating but still gives a subtle zing for a really cool look.

Triadic Colours – 3 colour grouping

To select Triadic colour groupings start with your chosen colour and then picture an equilateral triangle with one of the corners placed on your main colour- the other 2 corners will point to your Triad pairings. The 3 colours are equidistant on the colour wheel and will always give a balanced look. Many textiles use groupings like this as they can be bold without being intimidating.

Monotone Colours – 2, 3 or more tones.

For a chic, calming and harmonious colour scheme look to monotone colours. Start with your favourite colour and team it with other finishes and accessories of the same colour but that are different in shade, tint, saturation or intensity.

This is an easy solution for those of us who are still a little fearful of colour matching and gives an interior that is soft and sophisticated.

The same hue on the colour wheel can give 2 different looks simply by adjusting the tone of the colour as shown in these 2 examples. Be bold or tone it down- both schemes would make a beautiful addition to any home.

Hopefully these tips will help you to be a little braver adding colour to your home. If you are still feeling a little fearful of colour or quite like what you already have and don’t want to go to the expense of a complete revamp why not try adding an accent colour? Just adding a splash of colour to a neutral palette can help liven up your interior and change it with little expense and upheaval.

Check out my Colour Blog Pinterest board for original sources of images and more colourful inspiration.